Yakutat Seaplane Base Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Yakutat, Alaska 99689
Tuesady, September 5, 2000 15:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that while landing there was glare from the water, and oil spray on the windscreen. He described the seaplane touching down, and immediately flipping over. He stated that he does not know if he dragged one of the float tips in the water, or struck an object which he could not see in the sun glare. Postaccident inspection by an FAA inspector revealed damage to the right float bottom from possibly impacting an object in the water.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable landing area. Factors associated with the accident were the oil sprayed windshield, the sunglare, and an object in the water which the pilot did not see.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/5/2000
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone --
Event City YAKUTAT
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99689
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport YAKUTAT SEAPLANE BASE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 2Y3
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1537 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID YAK
Elevation of weather observation facility 40
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2300
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1040
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 5 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jul 2 2001 3:34PM
User who most recently changed record MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N603C
NTSB Number ANC00LA113
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Stinson
Aircraft Model 108-3
Aircraft Series Identifier 108-3
Aircraft Serial Number 108-3603
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 20 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 25
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN P. GROSS
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 1675
Aircraft Owner City SUTTER CREEK
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95685
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOHN P. GROSS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO BOX 1675
Operator City SUTTER CREEK
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 95685
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CKU
Departure City CORDOVA
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code 2Y3
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 2 2001 4:08AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 7500
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --